SPORTS

Lopes, Gomez, Brown, Ramon shine in divisional meets

BVAL track & field gold rush staged tonight

By Karl Laucher
Staff Writer

Separating the gold from the ore began last week in Blossom Valley Athletic League division competition. There were some sparkling performances indeed, particularly by Sean Lopes, Rolando Gomez and Camille Brown of Pioneer High School and Alex Ramon of Leland High School, all dominating multiple winners.

But whether what glimmers is but a gilded moment in time or evidence of a nugget with gravitas will be determined at the BVAL Championships tonight (Thursday) at Mount Pleasant High School when the finest gems in the 22-team BVAL are inspected for clarity of purpose. The first running event is set for 5:30 p.m. The top nine finishers advance to the Central Coast Section Trials set for May 22 at San Jose City College.

Lopes made an indelible mark on the BVAL West Valley competition, leading the Pioneer boys to their first championship in 40 years by powering his way to the finish line four timesÑwinning the 200-, 400- and 800-meter races and anchoring the winning 4x400 relay team, the latter with a brilliant come-from-behind effort on the Evergreen Valley High track.

Because the West Valley Division is the third tier in the BVAL, it will advance only itÕs top three finishers to the BVAL Championships, as compared to the top five from mid-level Santa Teresa Division performers and the top seven from the premier Mount Hamilton Division.

Still, PioneerÕs Mustangs will be rich in quality and numbers behind Lopes with undefeated shot/discus thrower Gomez, sprinter Camille Brown and winning relay teams at both 4x100 and the 4x400 from both the boys and girls. As the winner at both 200 and 400 meters, and running blazing legs on both relays, Camille equaled Lopes for total wins in the BVAL West Valley meet. CamilleÕs sister, Kameron, was runner-up at 100-meters and also a 4x100 baton carrier. Lopes also will be joined into nightÕs BVAL finale by a sibling. His brother, Steve, a freshman, is the third leg on the MustangsÕ 4x100 relay team.

Other individual winners for the Pioneer boys in divisional action were Steven DeLay at 1600 meters, Collin McCarthy in the 100-meter dash, and Harold Richardson in the long jump. The only other divisional girls champion for Pioneer was Keri Herbert in the 300-meter hurdles,

Leland, meanwhile, will count heavily upon Ramon and Jessica Chen to inspire the Chargers. Ramon, who placed fourth in the BVAL Cross Country Championships last fall, is unbeaten in league at both 1600 and 3200 meters, but Leland Coach Jerry Rose said Ramon may be held out of the 1600 tonight to concentrate on the longer, and his stronger, distance.

Chen, who won the BVAL Mount Hamilton 300 low hurdles title, is a multi-event threat (including the pole vault), but due to a chronic pain from having flat feet, the Chargers have limited her involvement to the 300 hurdles and the 4x400 relay for tonight.

While Pioneer is all but assured to move up to the Santa Teresa Division next year, Rose says he does not expected the Chargers to slip from the Mount Hamilton down to the Santa Teresa despite zero duel meet wins for the boys and only two for the girls. He notes that the Chargers have a program loaded with freshmen and sophomores (including all of both boys relay teams), and should be much improved next year, even with the loss of Ramon to graduation.

High School Sports Roundup

By Miranda Schultz
Sports Editor

Tuesday’s senior game against Mt. Pleasant marked Leland’s last home game, and was especially emotional for seven seniors on Leland’s softball team. The loss in the bottom of the eighth inning leaves Leland in third place—a win would have put them in first place—in the BVAL Mt. Hamilton division.

“We played a good team and we played well,” says Head Coach Joe Gron. “Things just didn’t go our way. They made great catches on what would have been good hits for us. We hit the ball well, and if it would have dropped, we would have won.”

Senior pitcher Kelly Harrison pitched all eight innings, and Christina Saenz was 3-4 with two doubles and Liz Perez was 2-4.

“It’s been a great season. They have played their butts off. We just need to refocus and go into Thursday and come out with a win against Westmont. Our chances in the playoffs are good in my eyes,” says Gron.

The girls play Westmont on Thursday.

Senior pitcher Kelly Harrison pitched her final game of the regular high school season against Mt. Pleasant on Tuesday. Photo courtesy of Mike Janes.

The Pioneer softball team lost the battle against Leigh in 12 innings on Tuesday. The 0-1 loss was Pioneer’s last home game of the season, and the last high school game for four seniors on the team.

“We had many opportunities to score runners from third base with less than two outs,” says Head Coach Brian Thompson. “We missed bunts and struck out and ran the bases badly in these situations.”

The girls are now in sixth place out of eight teams in the BVAL Mt. Hamilton division. “We are really working on staying positive. They have given 100 percent effort all season. I want them to be proud of the effort and know that effort doesn’t always show in the results. They are a good team and they should be proud,” says Thompson.
Thompson noted that the team’s bunting practice showed to be slightly more successful against Leigh than in the past.

The girls play Santa Teresa for their final game of the regular season on Thursday.

The Leland boys volleyball team lost to Willow Glen last Thursday in three games, and won the infamous “Tiki Torch.” Head Coach Jason Hilbert expected it to be a tough game. “Willow Glen came to play. They were amped up because they had to win to get to the CCS playoffs. We didn’t pass really well, but had glimpses of great plays. When it came time to bolt together, we just didn’t,” he said.

The guys are currently second in the BVAL Santa Teresa division and were seeded eighth for CCS play. The boys will play the ninth seed, Live Oak, on Thursday.

“The farthest we have ever made it is the second round. I expect the guys to play hard, and play well. After losing to Willow Glen, they know they are capable of more, they are expected, and expecting to give more in CCS play. Los Gatos is the toughest team around, I would love to get a chance to play them,” says Hilbert.

Junior Sam Lee led the team in kills against Willow Glen with 12, and Steve Sim executed his jump serve throughout the match.

Leland’s Sam Lee angles the ball past Willow Glen defenders for the kill. Unfortunately, his efforts alone didn’t win the “Tiki.”

Leland’s golf team made it through the first round of CCS at Rancho Canada on Tuesday. Out of 11 teams, Leland had the fourth best score, with a total of 388. Head Coach Adam Schiro is pleased with their performance.

“I’m not sure exactly how long it has been since we made it past the first day, but I think close to 10. We had a good team effort, but I am confident we can still play better as a whole,” he says. Leland’s Gary Beene tied with two others for the lowest score of the day, a two under par 69.

“Gary played great and got us into next week,” says Schiro. “Nelson recently recovered from a knee injury and played well for us. Everyone fought to advance. You are out on the course for a long time and there are a lot of distractions and doubts that can go through your head. I am proud of the team for what we have been able to accomplish so far.”

Scores for Leland: Michael O’Connor, 80; Justin Jio 79; Daniel Nelson, 78; Erich Wegscheider, 82; Mike Rulfs, 88.
The guys continue CCS play on Tuesday at Rancho Canada.

The Leland baseball team went 11 innings against Westmont on Tuesday night, and was able to clinch a win (5-4), and their first place title over the BVAL Mt. Hamilton division. “This was probably the best game I’ve been involved with for many years,” says Head Coach Scott Gillis.

Back and forth mistakes and great plays summed up the 11 innings. Damonn Ronsvalle’s two-out single in the bottom of the 11th pushed across the winning run. Stephan Akerson and Adam Lara each had solo homeruns.

Akerson was 2-4 on the day and Lara was 2-5. Kyle Woodruff pitched a solid seven innings, striking out six; reliever Anthony Trovato closed with a win.
The guys play Westmont again on Thursday.

Pitcher Kyle Woodruff threw for seven innings on Tuesday against Westmont. The senior gave up three hits and one earned run. He has a 7-1 record and a 1.169 ERA. Photo by Mike Janes.

Leland girls swim to win, boys finish second
Monsees siblings carry Chargers into CCS meet

By Justin Petersen
Staff Writer

The Leland High School swimmers knew they were in for a challenge entering the Blossom Valley Athletic League, Mount Hamilton Division, finals Sat., May 8. The girls, coming off a very narrow victory over closest rival Santa Teresa High School on the previous Monday, needed a first-place finish to secure their rites as the sole owners of the 2004 MHAL Championship trophy. However, the boys were in a larger predicament. Hiding one shameful loss amongst seven dominant wins, the Leland men needed a solo first place finish at the MHAL's to share a portion of the 2004 Championship with Leigh High School.

Well, the girls did and the boys didn't. In the final meet before both teams send their top performers to the May 15 CCS Championships, the Leland girls won big, capping an undefeated season, racking up 583 points, more than 100 better than their closest opponent. The boys, despite swimming their best efforts, fell 81 points shy of the Longhorns, accumulating 468 points for a second place finish.

Leland's Nichole Atkin provided the most inspired performance of the day, winning league titles in the 200-yard individual medley and the 100-yard back stroke events. Even more impressive, Atkin had finished second in each event versus Santa Teresa last week. However, when push came to shove, Atkin finished the job, winning when it counted in the league finals.

"As a senior, Nichole really stepped up on Saturday," said Leland girls' coach, Mike Haake. "She went out and beat the same girls that beat her last week. She said, 'I'm not going to be beat today.' And she wasn't. Very inspirational."

Freshman Courtney Monsees and Melanie Plott joined Atkin as individual event league champions. Monsees, who is a heavy favorite in the upcoming CCS meet, swam to first place finishes in both the 500-yard freestyle and the 200-yard freestyle events. Plott sprinted to the podium, winning the 50-yard freestyle event.

The girls' winners are rounded out by the 200-yard freestyle relay team and the 400-yard freestyle relay team.

On the boys side, senior Zac Monsees won both the 200-yard individual medley and the 500-yard freestyle events. Nick Beene also won, beating his closest competitor by a full two seconds in the 200-yard freestyle event.

Saturday at CCS, Leland's title hopes rest on the bulging shoulders of the Monsees family. Courtney and Zac both enter the meet holding the year's second best times in the 500-yard freestyle event, boys and girls.

The CCS Championship meet is scheduled to begin at 8a.m. on Sat., May 15. The event will be held at Independence High School in East San Jose.

Sports Schedules

Leland High School

Thursday 5/13
Baseball @ Westmont 3:30
JV baseball vs. Westmont 3:30
Softball @ Westmont 3:30
JV softball vs. Westmont 3:30
Boys swimming trials/finals
Girls swimming CCS diving @ Independence 10 a.m.
BVAL league finals @ Mt. Pleasant TBA
Boys volleyball CCS playoffs TBA

Friday 5/14
Boys lacrosse playoffs TBA
Girls lacrosse playoffs TBA
Boys swimming trials/finals
Girls swimming CCS Trials @ Independence 10 a.m.

Saturday 5/15
Lacrosse PAL championship TBA
Softball CCS seeding
Boys swimming trials/finals
Girls swimming CCS finals @ Independence 1:00

Monday 5/17
Badminton CCS seeding TBA

Tuesday 5/18
Badminton CCS begins TBA

Wednesday 5/19
Baseball CCS playoffs begin TBA
Softball CCS begins
Boys tennis CCA meeting TBA

Pioneer High School

Thursday 5/13
Swimming CCS begins
Softball @ Santa Teresa #:30
JV softball vs. Santa Teresa 3:30
Boys volleyball CCS begins

Friday 5/14
Swimming CCS
Baseball @ Branham 3:30
JV baseball vs. Branham 3:30

Saturday 5/15
Swimming CCS

Tuesday 5/18
Badminton CCS begins

Wednesday 5/19
Softball CCS begins
Baseball CCS begins

Pioneer to host junior basketball camp

By Justin Petersen
Staff Writer

Despite the electricity of Pioneer High School’s overly successful 2003-2004 basketball season fresh in mind, Mustang Coach Joe Berticevich is back at work, holding a basketball camp for kids ages 7 to 15 in his search for competitive reinforcements. Pioneer will host a summer basketball camp in association with Los Gatos High School and Coach Jim Marino June 21-25.

Under the direction of Coaches Berticevich and Marino, participants will learn the essential fundamentals of basketball technique. Skills include shooting, passing, dribbling, defense and team play with daily drills and scrimmages.

The camp will also feature guest speakers from the Pioneer and Los Gatos varsity boys basketball teams, including returning Mustang all-leaguers Mark Bundlie and Mike Kaufman. CCS Player of the Year Ceylon Elgin-Taylor is also expected to make an appearance in between his own preparation for the transition into Division I college basketball. Elgin-Taylor is headed for CSU Fullerton in the fall on a full-ride.

The camp will conclude with individual competitions and prizes on the final day.

“It’s a great opportunity,” said Berticevich, Pioneer’s up and coming answer to Johnny Wooden. “The kids have a chance to get some exposure, meet some of the guys and have a really good time.”

For more information, contact Coach Berticevich at (408) 489-3082 or Coach Marino at (408) 590-2588.